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- Ekman, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Skala upp den befintliga digitala vården i Sverige
- 2020
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Ingår i: Dagens Medicin. - Stockholm : Bonnier. - 1104-7488.
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- Ge Socialstyrelsen ett nationellt uppdrag att beställa och ersätta vårdgivare av digital vård, föreslår en grupp forskare med anledning av covid-19.
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6. |
- Ekström, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Forecasting emergency department visits using internet data
- 2015
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Ingår i: Annals of Emergency Medicine. - : Elsevier. - 0196-0644 .- 1097-6760. ; 65:4, s. 436-442.e1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- STUDY OBJECTIVE: Using Internet data to forecast emergency department (ED) visits might enable a model that reflects behavioral trends and thereby be a valid tool for health care providers with which to allocate resources and prevent crowding. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Web site visits to a regional medical Web site, the Stockholm Health Care Guide, a proxy for the general public's concern of their health, could be used to predict the ED attendance for the coming day.METHODS: In a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study, a model for forecasting the daily number of ED visits was derived and validated. The model was derived through regression analysis, using visits to the Stockholm Health Care Guide Web site between 6 pm and midnight and day of the week as independent variables. Web site visits were measured with Google Analytics. The number of visits to the ED within the region was retrieved from the Stockholm County Council administrative database. All types of ED visits (including adult, pediatric, and gynecologic) were included. The period of August 13, 2011, to August 12, 2012, was used as a training set for the model. The hourly variation of visits was analyzed for both Web site and the ED visits to determine the interval of hours to be used for the prediction. The model was validated with mean absolute percentage error for August 13, 2012, to October 31, 2012.RESULTS: The correlation between the number of Web site visits between 6 pm and midnight and ED visits the coming day was significant (r=0.77; P<.001). The best forecasting results for ED visits were achieved for the entire county, with a mean absolute percentage error of 4.8%. The result for the individual hospitals ranged between mean absolute percentage error 5.2% and 13.1%.CONCLUSION: Web site visits may be used in this fashion to predict attendance to the ED. The model works both for the entire region and for individual hospitals. The possibility of using Internet data to predict ED visits is promising.
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- Farrokhnia, Nasim, et al.
(författare)
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Differential early mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in hyperglycemic ischemic brain injury in the rat
- 2005
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Ingår i: European Journal of Clinical Investigation. - : Wiley. - 0014-2972 .- 1365-2362. ; 35:7, s. 457-463
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Hyperglycemia aggravates brain injury induced by focal ischemia-reperfusion. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) members extracellular-signal regulated kinase (Erk) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) have been proposed as mediators of ischemic brain injury, and Erk is strongly activated by combined hyperglycemia and transient global ischemia. It is unclear whether similar MAPK activation appears in focal brain ischemia with concomitant hyperglycemia. DESIGN: Hyperglycemia was induced in rats by an intraperitoneal bolus of glucose (2 g kg(-1)). The rats were then subjected to 90 min of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Erk and JNK activation were investigated with immunofluorescence and Western blot along with infarct size measurement based on tetrazolium staining and neurological score. RESULTS: The hyperglycemic rats showed increased tissue damage and impaired neurological performance after 1 day compared with controls. The hyperglycemia was generally moderate (< 15 mM). Erk activation was increased after 30 min of reperfusion in the ischemic cortex of the hyperglycemic rats, while JNK activation was present on the contralateral side. Phospho-Erk immunofluorescence revealed marked neuronal activation of Erk in the ischemic cortex of hyperglycemic rats compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Besides confirming the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia on focal ischemia-reperfusion, this study shows that hyperglycemia strongly activates the pathogenic mediator Erk in the ischemic brain in the early phase of reperfusion. JNK activation at this stage is present in the nonischemic hemisphere. The functional relevance of these findings needs further investigation.
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- Farrokhnia, Nasim, et al.
(författare)
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Emergency Department Triage Scales and Their Components : A Systematic Review of the Scientific Evidence
- 2011
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1757-7241. ; 19, s. 42-
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emergency department (ED) triage is used to identify patients' level of urgency and treat them based on their triage level. The global advancement of triage scales in the past two decades has generated considerable research on the validity and reliability of these scales. This systematic review aims to investigate the scientific evidence for published ED triage scales. The following questions are addressed: 1. Does assessment of individual vital signs or chief complaints affect mortality during the hospital stay or within 30 days after arrival at the ED? 2. What is the level of agreement between clinicians' triage decisions compared to each other or to a gold standard for each scale (reliability)? 3. How valid is each triage scale in predicting hospitalization and hospital mortality? A systematic search of the international literature published from 1966 through March 31, 2009 explored the British Nursing Index, Business Source Premier, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed. Inclusion was limited to controlled studies of adult patients (>= 15 years) visiting EDs for somatic reasons. Outcome variables were death in ED or hospital and need for hospitalization (validity). Methodological quality and clinical relevance of each study were rated as high, medium, or low. The results from the studies that met the inclusion criteria and quality standards were synthesized applying the internationally developed GRADE system. Each conclusion was then assessed as having strong, moderately strong, limited, or insufficient scientific evidence. If studies were not available, this was also noted. We found ED triage scales to be supported, at best, by limited and often insufficient evidence. The ability of the individual vital signs included in the different scales to predict outcome is seldom, if at all, studied in the ED setting. The scientific evidence to assess interrater agreement (reliability) was limited for one triage scale and insufficient or lacking for all other scales. Two of the scales yielded limited scientific evidence, and one scale yielded insufficient evidence, on which to assess the risk of early death or hospitalization in patients assigned to the two lowest triage levels on a 5-level scale (validity).
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- Farrokhnia, Nasim, et al.
(författare)
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Experimental treatment for focal hyperglycemic ischemic brain injury in the rat
- 2005
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Ingår i: Experimental Brain Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0014-4819 .- 1432-1106. ; 167:2, s. 310-314
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Hyperglycemia aggravates ischemic brain injury, possibly due to the activation of signaling pathways involving reactive oxygen species, Src and mitogen-activated protein kinases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the spin trap agent alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), the Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 and the MEK1-inhibitor U0126 on focal hyperglycemic ischemic brain injury. Temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (90 min) was induced in four groups of rats (PBN, PP2, and U0126 vs. control). Neurological testing and tetrazolium red staining were performed after 1 day. PBN decreased the infarct volume by 70% compared with the control (P<0.05) and a tendency towards reduced infarcts was seen in the PP2 or U0126 groups. Furthermore, neurological testing was consistent with the volumetric analysis. In conclusion, PBN appears to be a potential neuroprotective agent in hyperglycemic, focal ischemic brain injury, while the efficacy of PP2 and U0126 could not be confirmed by the present data.
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11. |
- Farrokhnia, Nasim, 1972-
(författare)
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Hyperglycemia and Focal Brain Ischemia : Clinical and Experimental Studies
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Diabetes is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke and is associated with increased mortality. Additionally, hyperglycemia, a common complication in acute stroke, is associated with poor outcome.In order to identify the correlation between blood glucose and early mortality, multiple logistic regression analyses were used and odds ratios calculated in a retrospective study of 447 stroke patients. Eighty-one patients (18%) had diabetes. The odds ratios for 30-day case-fatality and blood glucose were 1.9 and 1.6 in diabetic and non-diabetic patients respectively. Optimal blood glucose concentrations in respective group were 10.3 and 6.3 mmol/L, as determined by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves.Cerebral ischemia triggers different signaling pathways including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) which regulate fundamental cell functions. In an experimental rat model of combined hyperglycemia and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), the activation pattern of one such MAPK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was studied along with infarct volumes and neurological function. Hyperglycemia resulted in markedly increased ERK activation and approximately three-fold increase of infarcts compared with controls. Based on the increased ERK activation, further experiments were conducted to limit the hyperglycemic-ischemic damage by interfering with ERK and supposedly related mechanisms. Consequently, rats were given U0126 (inhibiting ERK activation), PBN (anti-oxidative), PP2 (inhibiting src-family kinases), or vehicle. PBN reduced infarcts and improved neurological function compared with controls while no statistically significant effects were observed for U0126 or PP2. However, when the dose was doubled, U0126 significantly reduced infarcts and improved neurological function after 1 day in hyperglycemic rats. Post-ischemic ERK activation was completely inhibited by U0126 as demonstrated with Western immunoblotting. The findings suggest that ERK is an important mediator of hyperglycemic-ischemic brain injury and possible target for future interventions.
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- Farrokhnia, Nasim, et al.
(författare)
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MEK-inhibitor U0126 in hyperglycaemic focal ischaemic brain injury in the rat
- 2008
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Ingår i: European Journal of Clinical Investigation. - : Wiley. - 0014-2972 .- 1365-2362. ; 38:9, s. 679-85
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Hyperglycaemia aggravates ischaemic brain injury, possibly due to activation of signalling pathways involving mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). In this study, the activation of MAPK/ERK was inhibited using the upstream inhibitor of MAPK-ERK-kinase (MEK) U0126, and the effects on focal brain ischaemia were evaluated during normo- and hyperglycaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Temporary (90 min) middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced in five groups of rats. U0126 (400 microg kg(-1)) or vehicle was given as 60-min intravenous infusions starting either 30 min prior to MCAO or 30 min prior to reperfusion. The infarct size was determined by perfusion with tetrazolium red after 24 h of survival, and the neurology was tested with the 4-level scale of Bederson and performance on an inclined plane. The inhibitory effect on the targeted MEK enzyme was investigated by analysing the phosphorylation of the downstream target ERK with western immunoblotting. Two subgroups were investigated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion-weighted (DWI) and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI). RESULTS: U0126 effectively reduced the infarct size and improved neurology in hyperglycaemic rats both when given before and after ischemic onset. This effect was not accompanied by any detectable changes in cerebral blood flow on MRI. Normoglycaemic rats had generally milder injuries compared with the hyperglycaemic and there was a nonsignificant trend for U0126 to reduce damage also in the nonhyperglycaemic groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, U0126 appears to be neuroprotective in this model of hyperglycaemic ischaemic brain injury. The findings support the pathogenic importance of the MEK-ERK pathway in hyperglycaemic-ischaemic brain injury.
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- Farrokhnia, Nasim, et al.
(författare)
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Swedish emergency department triage and interventions for improved patient flows : a national update
- 2011
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1757-7241. ; 19, s. 72-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In Scandinavia, emergency department triage and patient flow processes, are under development. In Sweden, the triage development has resulted in two new triage scales, the Adaptive Process Triage and the Medical Emergency Triage and Treatment System. Both these scales have logistic components, aiming to improve patient flows. The aim of this study was to report the development and current status of emergency department triage and patient flow processes in Sweden. Methods: In 2009 and 2010 the Swedish Council on Health Technology Assessment sent out a questionnaire to the ED managers in all (74) Swedish hospital emergency departments. The questionnaire comprised questions about triage and interventions to improve patient flows. Results: Nearly all (97%) EDs in Sweden employed a triage scale in 2010, which was an increase from 2009 (73%). Further, the Medical Emergency Triage and Treatment System was the triage scale most commonly implemented across the country. The implementation of flow-related interventions was not as common, but more than half (59%) of the EDs have implemented or plan to implement nurse requested X-ray. Conclusions: There has been an increase in the use of triage scales in Swedish EDs during the last few years, with acceleration for the past two years. Most EDs have come to use the Medical Emergency Triage and Treatment System, which also indicates regional co-operation. The implementation of different interventions for improved patient flows in EDs most likely is explained by the problem of crowding. Generally, more studies are needed to investigate the economical aspects of these interventions.
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- Hägglund, Maria, Lektor, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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Escape to the future : a qualitative study of physicians' views on the work environment, education, and support in a digital context
- 2023
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Ingår i: BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1472-6947. ; 23:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundThe use of remote services such as video consultations (VCs) has increased significantly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Sweden, private healthcare providers offering VCs have grown substantially since 2016 and have been controversial. Few studies have focused on physicians’ experiences providing care in this context. Our aim was to study physicians’ experiences of VCs, focusing on the work environment, quality of care, and educational needs.MethodsTwenty-two semi-structured interviews were performed with physicians working with VCs in Sweden, and analyzed through inductive content analysis.ResultsWe identified five categories; flexibility, social work environment, impact on care and society, continuous learning and career development, and organizational support. Flexibility and accessibility were considered positive features of working digitally by giving physicians control over their time and workplace and increasing patients’ timely access to healthcare. Regarding collegial contact and social activities in a digital context, the majority of the participants did not experience any significant difference compared to the physical context. Access to technical support services, educational support, and collegial support in decision-making, guidance, and consultations were described as well-functioning. Satisfied patients positively impacted the work environment, and participants felt that VCs have a positive socio-economic effect. Continuity of care was considered supported, but patients did not always prioritize this. Privacy risks were considered a challenge, as were poor development of clinical skills due to the low variation of patient cases. Working for an online healthcare provider was contributing to career advancements for junior clinicians.ConclusionsPhysicians appreciate the flexibility of the digital context and seem satisfied with a work environment where they have a high level of control, but few consider this a full-time career option. The pandemic year 2020 has led to a significant increase in the implementation of VCs in traditional care systems. How this affects the work environment and continuous education needs and career development remains to be seen.
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16. |
- Hägglund, Maria, Lektor, 1975-, et al.
(författare)
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The Future of Online Video Consultations in Primary Care : A Qualitative Study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Caring is Sharing - Exploiting the Value in Data for Health and Innovation - Proceedings of MIE 2023. - : IOS Press. - 1879-8365 .- 0926-9630. - 9781643683881 - 9781643683898 ; 302, s. 942-946
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the use of remote services such as video consultations (VCs). In Sweden, private healthcare providers offering VCs have grown substantially since 2016 and have been controversial. Few studies have focused on physicians' experiences of providing care in this context. Our overall aim was to study physicians' experiences of VCs, here focusing on their suggestions for future improvements. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were performed with physicians working for an online healthcare provider in Sweden, and analyzed through inductive content analysis. Two themes emerged related to desired future improvements of VCs; blended care and technical innovation.
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17. |
- Liu, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Can dedicated emergency team and area for older people reduce the hospital admission rate? : An observational pre- and post-intervention study
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC Geriatrics. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2318. ; 21:1, s. 1-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundEmergency department (ED) care of older patients is often complex. Geriatric ED guidelines can help to meet this challenge. However, training requirements, the use of time-consuming tools for comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), a lack of golden standard to identify the frail patients, and the weak evidence of positive outcomes of using CGA in EDs pose barriers to introduce the guidelines. Dedicating an interprofessional team of regular ED medical and nursing staff and an older-friendly ED area can be another approach. Previous studies of geriatrician-led CGA in EDs have reported a reduced hospital admission rate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a dedicated interprofessional emergency team also can reduce the hospital admission rate without the resources required by the formal use of CGA.MethodsAn observational pre-post study at a large adult ED, where all patients 80years or older arriving on weekdays in the intervention period from 2016.09.26 to 2016.11.28 and the corresponding weekdays in the previous year from 2015.09.28 to 2015.11.30 were included.In the intervention period, older patients either received care in the geriatric module by the dedicated team or in the regular team modules for patients of mixed ages. In 2015, all patients received care in regular team modules. The primary outcome measure was the total hospital admission rate and the ED length of stay was the secondary outcome measure.ResultsWe included 2377 arrivals in the intervention period, when 26.7% (N=634) received care in the geriatric module, and 2207 arrivals in the 2015 period. The total hospital admission rate was 61.7% (N=1466/2377) in the intervention period compared to 64.8% (N=1431/2207) in 2015 (p=0.03). The difference was larger for patients treated in the geriatric module, 51.1% compared to 62.1% (95% CI: 56.3 to 68.0%) for patients who would have been eligible in 2015. The ED length of stay was longer in the intervention period.ConclusionsAn interprofessional team and area dedicated to older patients was associated to a lower hospital admission rate. Further studies are needed to confirm the results.
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18. |
- Liu, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Can interprofessional teamwork reduce patient throughput times? : A longitudinal single-centre study of three different triage processes at a Swedish emergency department
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 8:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To determine the impact on emergency department (ED) throughput times and proportion of patients who leave without being seen by a physician (LWBS) of two triage interventions, where comprehensive nurse-led triage was first replaced by senior physician-led triage and then by interprofessional teamwork. Design Single-centre before-and-after study. Setting Adult ED of a Swedish urban hospital. Participants Patients arriving on weekdays 08: 00 to 21: 00 during three 1-year periods in the interval May 2012 to November 2015. A total of 185 806 arrivals were included. Interventions Senior physicians replaced triage nurses May 2013 to May 2014. Interprofessional teamwork replaced the triage process on weekdays 08: 00 to 21: 00 November 2014 to November 2015. Main outcome measures Primary outcomes were the median time to physician (TTP) and the median length of stay (LOS). Secondary outcome was the LWBS rate. Results The crude median LOS was shortest for teamwork, 228 min (95% Cl 226.4 to 230.5) compared with 232 min (95% Cl 230.8 to 233.9) for nurse-led and 250 min (95% Cl 248.5 to 252.6) for physician-led triage. The adjusted LOS for the teamwork period was 16 min shorter than for nurse-led triage and 23 min shorter than for physician-led triage. The median TTP was shortest for physician-led triage, 56 min (95% Cl 54.5 to 56.6) compared with 116 min (95% Cl 114.4 to 117.5) for nurse-led triage and 74 min (95% Cl 72.7 to 74.8) for teamwork. The LWBS rate was 1.9% for nurse-led triage, 1.2% for physician-led triage and 3.2% for teamwork. All outcome measure differences had two-tailed p values< 0.01. Conclusions Interprofessional teamwork had the shortest length of stay, a shorter time to physician than nurse-led triage, but a higher LWBS rate. Interprofessional teamwork may be a useful approach to reducing ED throughput times.
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19. |
- Liu, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of interprofessional teamwork modules implementation in an emergency department : A mixed-methods case study of implementation fidelity
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC Health Services Research. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6963. ; 21:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The need for interprofessional collaboration has been emphasized by health organizations. This study was part of a mixed-methods evaluation of interprofessional teamwork modules implementation in an emergency department (ED), where a major intervention was didactic training of team roles and behaviours in combination with practice scenarios. The aim of the study was to evaluate the implementation of interprofessional teamwork modules from a staff perspective and focus on how implementation fidelity may be sustained. Methods In this mixed-methods case study we triangulated staff data from structured observations, semi-structured interviews, and a questionnaire repeated at intervals over 5 years. A protocol of key team behaviours was used for the observations conducted in June 2016 and June 2018, 11/2 and 31/2 years after the initial implementation. A purposeful sample of central informants, including nursing and medical professionals and section managers, was interviewed from May to June 2018. The interview guide consisted of open-ended questions about the experiences of interprofessional teamwork modules and the implementation process. The questionnaire consisted of five statements about the perceived workload, interprofessional collaboration and patient satisfaction, where each was rated on a Likert scale. Results Good fidelity to four out of five key team behaviours was observed during the first year. However, fidelity was sustained only for one key team behaviour after 3 years. We conducted a qualitative content analysis of 18 individual interviews. The theme Enjoying working together, but feeling less efficient emerged of the interprofessional teamwork modules, despite shorter ED stays for the patients. Negative experiences of the staff included passive team leaders and slow care teams. The theme Stimulating to create, but challenging to sustain emerged of the implementation process, where barriers were not adressed and implementation fidelity not sustained. The staff questionnaire showed that the perceived work conditions was improved in periods of high fidelity, but deteriorated to pre-implementation levels as fidelity to the key team behaviours decayed in 2018. Conclusions Extensive planning and successful initial implementation were not enough to sustain the key behaviour changes in the study. The use of implementation frameworks can be helpful in future projects.
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20. |
- Liu, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Interprofessional teamwork versus fast track streaming in an emergency department - An observational cohort study of two strategies for enhancing the throughput of orthopedic patients presenting limb injuries or back pain
- 2019
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science. - 1932-6203. ; 14:7, s. -16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To compare two strategies, interprofessional teams versus fast track streaming, for orthopedic patients with limb injuries or back pain, the most frequent orthopedic complaints in an emergency department. Methods An observational before-and-after study at an adult emergency department from May 2012 to Nov 2015. Patients who arrived on weekdays from 8 am to 9 pm and presented limb injury or back pain during one year of each process were included, so that 11,573 orthopedic presentations were included in the fast track period and 10,978 in the teamwork period. Similarly, another 11,020 and 10,760 arrivals presenting the six most frequent non-orthopedic complaints were included in the respective periods, altogether 44,331 arrivals. The outcome measures were the time to physician (TTP) and length of stay (LOS). The LOS was adjusted for predictors, including imaging times, by using linear regression analysis. Results The overall median TTP was shorter in the teamwork period, 76.3 min versus 121.0 min in the fast track period (-44.7 min, 95% confidence interval (CI): -47.3 to -42.6). The crude median LOS for orthopedic presentations was also shorter in the teamwork period, 217.0 min versus 230.0 min (-13.0 min, 95% CI: -18.0 to -8.0), and the adjusted LOS was 22.8 min shorter (95% CI: -26.9 to -18.7). For non-orthopedic presentations, the crude median LOS did not differ significantly between the periods (2.0 min, 95% CI: -3.0 to 7.0). However, the adjusted LOS was shorter in the teamwork period (-20.1 min, 95% CI: -24.6 to -15.7). Conclusions The median TTP and LOS for orthopedic presentations were shorter in the teamwork period. For non-orthopedic presentations, the TTP and adjusted LOS were also shorter in the teamwork period. Therefore, interprofessional teamwork may be an alternative approach to improve the patient flow in emergency departments.
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21. |
- Muntlin Athlin, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of multidisciplinary teamwork on lead times and patient flow in the emergency department : a longitudinal interventional cohort study
- 2013
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1757-7241. ; 21, s. 76-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Long waiting times for emergency care are claimed to be caused by overcrowded emergency departments and non-effective working routines. Teamwork has been suggested as a promising solution to these issues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of teamwork in a Swedish emergency department on lead times and patient flow. Methods: The study was set in an emergency department of a university hospital where teamwork, a multi-professional team responsible for the whole care process for a group of patients, was introduced. The study has a longitudinal non-randomized intervention study design. Data were collected for five two-week periods during a period of 1.5 years. The first part of the data collection used an ABAB design whereby standard procedure (A) was altered weekly with teamwork (B). Then, three follow-ups were conducted. At last follow-up, teamwork was permanently implemented. The outcome measures were: number of patients handled within teamwork time, time to physician, total visit time and number of patients handled within the 4-hour target. Results: A total of 1,838 patient visits were studied. The effect on lead times was only evident at the last follow-up. Findings showed that the number of patients handled within teamwork time was almost equal between the different study periods. At the last follow-up, the median time to physician was significantly decreased by 11 minutes (p = 0.0005) compared to the control phase and the total visit time was significantly shorter at last follow-up compared to control phase (p = <0.0001; 39 minutes shorter on average). Finally, the 4-hour target was met in 71% in the last follow-up compared to 59% in the control phase (p = 0.0005). Conclusions: Teamwork seems to contribute to the quality improvement of emergency care in terms of small but significant decreases in lead times. However, although efficient work processes such as teamwork are necessary to ensure safe patient care, it is likely not sufficient for bringing about larger decreases in lead times or for meeting the 4-hour target in the emergency department.
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22. |
- Muntlin, Åsa, Docent, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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Teamwork – a way to improve patient perceptions of the quality of care in an emergency department : an intervention study with follow-up
- 2016
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Ingår i: European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare. - : University of Buckingham Press. - 2052-5648 .- 2052-5656. ; 4:3, s. 509-519
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale, aims and objectives: Targeted interventions are suggested for improving patient perceptions of the emergency care they have received. However, organizational changes are another way of addressing these issues. Structured evaluation of such changes is warranted. The overall aim was to investigate how organizational changes aimed to support multi-professional teamwork in the emergency department (ED) could affect patients’ perceptions of the quality of care.Method: The introduction of multi-professional teamwork in an emergency department at a Swedish university hospital was evaluated using an intervention study design. Weeks with standard procedure were interchanged with and compared to, intervention weeks over a 4-week period and follow-up after 1.5 years. In total, 203 patients completed the questionnaire “Quality from the Patient’s Perspective (QPP)”. Results: Of 4 dimensions, 3 (medical-technical, identity-oriented approach and socio-cultural atmosphere) showed increasing improvements from the control phase to follow-up. Seven of 22 items concerning quality of care in the emergency department improved significantly from baseline to intervention and to follow-up. The number of areas in need of improvement was dramatically reduced in the intervention phase compared to the control phase and overall the results were sustained 1.5 years later. Significant differences between the study phases in patient perceptions of waiting time were also noted.Conclusion: Multi-professional teamwork has previously been related to improved patient safety and lead time efficiency. Findings show that it may also be related to improvements in patients’ perceptions of quality of care in the emergency department. Emphasizing this relationship may enhance the patient-centered care approach of emergency departments.
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23. |
- Oredsson, Sven, et al.
(författare)
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A systematic review of triage-related interventions to improve patient flow in emergency departments
- 2011
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine. - London : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1757-7241. ; 19, s. 43-
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Overcrowding in emergency departments is a worldwide problem. A systematic literature review was undertaken to scientifically explore which interventions improve patient flow in emergency departments. Methods: A systematic literature search for flow processes in emergency departments was followed by assessment of relevance and methodological quality of each individual study fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Studies were excluded if they did not present data on waiting time, length of stay, patients leaving the emergency department without being seen or other flow parameters based on a nonselected material of patients. Only studies with a control group, either in a randomized controlled trial or in an observational study with historical controls, were included. For each intervention, the level of scientific evidence was rated according to the GRADE system, launched by a WHO-supported working group. Results: The interventions were grouped into streaming, fast track, team triage, point-of-care testing (performing laboratory analysis in the emergency department), and nurse-requested x-ray. Thirty-three studies, including over 800,000 patients in total, were included. Scientific evidence on the effect of fast track on waiting time, length of stay, and left without being seen was moderately strong. The effect of team triage on left without being seen was relatively strong, but the evidence for all other interventions was limited or insufficient. Conclusions: Introducing fast track for patients with less severe symptoms results in shorter waiting time, shorter length of stay, and fewer patients leaving without being seen. Team triage, with a physician in the team, will probably result in shorter waiting time and shorter length of stay and most likely in fewer patients leaving without being seen. There is only limited scientific evidence that streaming of patients into different tracks, performing laboratory analysis in the emergency department or having nurses to request certain x-rays results in shorter waiting time and length of stay.
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25. |
- Söderberg, Daniel, et al.
(författare)
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Individual Patient Factors Associated with the Use of Physical or Digital Primary Care in Sweden
- 2024
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Ingår i: Telemedicine journal and e-health. - : Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. - 1530-5627 .- 1556-3669.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Little is known about factors that influence patients' choice to use physical or digital primary care. This study aimed to compare self-rated health, internet habits, and what patients deem important when choosing health care between users of physical and digital primary health care. Methods: We recruited 2,716 adults visiting one of six physical or four digital primary health care providers in Stockholm, Sweden, October 2020 to May 2021. Participants answered a questionnaire with questions about sociodemography, self-rated health, internet habits, and what they considered important when seeking care. We used logistic regression and estimated odds ratios (ORs) for choosing digital care. Results: Digital users considered themselves healthier and used the internet more, compared with physical users (p < 0.001). Competence of health care staff was the most important factor when seeking care to both physical and digital users (90% and 78%, respectively). Patients considering it important to avoid leaving home were more likely to seek digital care (OR 29.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 12.65?69.06), while patients valuing continuity were more likely to seek physical care (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.19?0.32). These factors were significant also when adjusting for self-rated health and sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion: What patients considered important when seeking health care was associated with what type of care they sought. Patient preferences should be considered when planning health care to optimize resource allocation.
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